Hybrid rugosa rose plant named ‘Meitozaure’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Rugosa  rose plant is provided which forms in clusters attractive single bright purplish-red blossoms having a strong fragrance. The blossom coloration is well maintained upon maturity. The plant exhibits a compact and typically broader than high growth habit with good vigor. Excellent resistance to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew and Downey Mildew is displayed. The very dense medium green to dark green foliage with a semi-glossy aspect contrasts nicely with the blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape and serves particularly well in small spaces and in mass plantings with minimal maintenance requirements.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa rugosa/Hybrid Rugosa RosePlant.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Meitozaure’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Hybrid Rugosa rose plant was created by artificialpollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had beenstudied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the‘Flower Carpet White’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,573). The ‘FlowerCarpet White’ variety sometimes is known as the ‘Noaschnee’ variety. Themale parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was ‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’ variety(non-patented in the United States). The ‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’ varietysometimes is known as the ‘Frau Dagmar Hastrup’ variety. The parentageof the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Flower Carpet White’×‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Rugosa rose variety of the present invention

-   -   (a) exhibits a compact and typically broader than high growth        habit with good vigor,    -   (b) forms in clusters attractive single bright purplish-red        blossoms that well retain their coloration upon maturity,    -   (c) forms very dense medium green to dark green foliage having a        semi-glossy aspect that contrasts well with the blossom        coloration,    -   (d) is highly resistant to common rose diseases such as Black        Spot, Powdery Mildew and Downy Mildew, and    -   (e) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive        ornamentation in the landscape.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in parks and gardens where attractiveornamentation is desired. It is particularly well suited for growing insmall spaces and in mass plantings with minimal maintenancerequirements.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the ‘Flower Carpet White’ variety forms white blossoms and the‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’ variety forms dissimilar silvery-pink blossomswith a ripe fruit fragrance. Also, the ‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp’ varietyforms red hips in abundance while the new variety commonly forms orangehips in a lesser quantity.

Additionally, the new variety can be readily distinguished from theHybrid Rugosa ‘Strolon’ variety (non-patented in the United States)which exhibits medium pink blossoms. Such comparative variety sometimesis known as the ‘Polarsonne’ variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation at WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A., and at Wasco, Calif., U.S.A., by a number of routes,including budding, grafting, and by the use of cuttings. Asexualpropagation by the above-mentioned techniques at Pennsylvania, andCalifornia, has shown that the characteristics of the new variety arestable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation fromone generation to another. Good plant development is displayedregardless of the mode of asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named the ‘Meitozaure’ variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The rose plants of the new varietywere approximately four years of age and were photographed during June2003 while growing outdoors on their own roots in the ground atJennersville, Pa. U.S.A.

FIG. 1 illustrates an overall view of a typical plant that had been cutto a height of approximately 10 inches during the previous winter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a specimen of a typical flowering stem with foliage.

FIG. 3 illustrates specimens of typical flowers—plan view obverse on theright, and—plan view reverse on the left.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based onthe observation of four year-old plants during June, 2003 while growingoutdoors on their own roots at Jennersville, Pa.

-   Class: Hybrid Rugosa.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 0.5 to 0.75 m on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Width.—Approximately 1.5 to 2.5 m on average at the end of            the growing season.        -   Habit.—Compact, spreading, and bushy.-   Branches:    -   -   Wood.—New wood is near Yellow-Green Group 145B in coloration            and is covered with relatively soft prickles, and old wood            is near Greyed-Green Group 197A in coloration and is covered            with stiff prickles.        -   Thorns.—Size: Variable and commonly approximately 2 to 6 mm            in length. Quantity: Numerous. Shape: Triangularis. Color:            Near Yellow-Green Group 145B when immature and near            Yellow-Green Group 150C when mature.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Varies widely within and between leaflet numbers.            Mature 7-leaflet leaves typically are approximately 12 to 16            cm (approximately 14 cm on average) in length, and            approximately 7 to 9 cm (approximately 8.4 cm on average) in            width. Mature 9-leaflet leaves typically are approximately            14 to 16 cm (approximately 15 cm on average) in length, and            approximately 7 to 10 cm (approximately 8.6 cm on average)            in width.        -   Petioles.—Approximately 32 mm in length on average, glabrous            on the upper surface, prickly on the under surface, and near            Yellow-Green Group 145C in coloration. The rachis is            similarly glabrous on the upper surface and prickly on the            under surface.        -   Stipules.—Adnate, relatively smooth, pectinate, and commonly            measure approximately 10×17 mm on average. The upper surface            is near Yellow-Green Group 145A at the base and darkens to            Green Group 137D at the apex. The lower surface is near            Yellow-Green Group 145B. The midrib on both surfaces is near            Green Group 138B.        -   Leaflets.—Number: Rarely 3 and if present commonly            associated with an inflorescence, rarely 5, 7 (most often),            and occasionally 9. Arrangement: Alternate and pinnately            compound. Venation: Pinnate and reticulate. Shape: Typically            elliptical to oblong to slightly obovate. Apex: Varies from            commonly truncate to nearly truncate to rounded to broadly            obtuse to obtuse to broadly acute to broadly acuminate.            Base: Typically oblique to rounded to occasionally broadly            cuneate. Margin: Typically serrate with the teeth being more            prominent toward the apex to rarely crenate. Texture: Rugose            and coriaceus. Size terminal leaflets: From a mature            7-leaflet leaf typically from approximately 38 to 50 mm            (approximately 43.5 mm on average) in length, and            approximately 25 to 31 mm (approximately 29 mm on average)            in width. From a mature 9-leaflet leaf typically from            approximately 43 to 45 mm (approximately 44 mm on average)            in length and approximately 26 to 30 mm (approximately            28 mm) in width. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface:            Darker leaves are near Green Group 136A and Green Group            139A, and lighter leaves are near Green Group 137A. Under            surface: Darker leaves are near Green Group 137C and lighter            leaves are near Greyed-Green Group 191A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly 1 to 7 per stem, and            approximately 5 on average. However, as many as 14 blossoms            have been observed on a very vigorous stem.        -   Bearing.—Borne terminally on the axils of the uppermost part            of the stem. Heaviest with the first flush in June, and            continuous but less floriferous until hard frost.        -   Type.—Complete, perfect, polypetalous, and actinomorphic.        -   Sepals.—Number: Typically 5, and very rarely 4 or 6.            Extensions: When present feathery foliaceous extensions at            the tip commonly may range from approximately 5 to 8.5 mm in            length. Shape: Typically lanceolate with some minor            feathering at the tip. Texture: Smooth on the inner surface            and glandular on the outer surface.        -   Peduncles.—Length: Commonly approximately 23 mm on average.            Surface texture: Pubescent. Strength: Quite strong. Color:            Yellow-Green Group 144B and 144C. Size: Typically            approximately 20 to 46 mm (approximately 35 mm in length on            average), and approximately 5 to 8 mm (approximately 6 mm)            in width on average. Color: Near Yellow-Green Group 144D on            the inner surface and near 144B and 144C on the outer            surface.        -   Flower.—Shape: Single and flattened cup-shaped when fully            open. Diameter: Approximately 6 to 8 cm on average. Color            (fully open blossom): Upper surface: Typically near            Red-Purple Group 71B, 71C, 72B, 72C, and 74A with some areas            approaching Purple Group 77B and 78A and Purple-Violet Group            80B and 80C. Lower surface: Typically near Red-Purple Group            71D, 72B, and 72C and Purple Group 77C and 77D approaching            the base of the petal. Base petal spot: On both surfaces a            small area of White Group 155A shading towards and through            White Group 155A and Green-White Group 157B becoming near            Yellow Group 4D at the very base of the petal. Color            stability: Very good with the coloration commonly being well            maintained to fully maturity. Fragrance: Strong, spicy,            sweet clove. Petal number: Commonly 5 per blossom under            normal growing conditions. Petal shape: Broadly obovate to            almost obcordate. Petaloids: None observed. Petal texture:            Glabrous, smooth, somewhat membranaceus, and lightly            crinkled. Petal margin: Typically entire and somewhat            revolute at times. Petal apex: Truncate to emarginate to            praemorsus to occasionally somewhat retuse. Petal base:            Rounded to broadly rounded to broadly cuneate. Petal size:            Typically approximately 3.5 to 4.6 cm in length and width.            Petal drop: Good with the petals commonly detaching cleanly            before drying. Stamen number: Typically approximately 175 to            250, and commonly approximately 190 to 200 on average.            Anthers: Commonly approximately 1.1 to 1.8 mm in size with            an average of approximately 1.4 mm, Greyed-Yellow Group 160A            on the body, and some Greyed-Yellow Group 160B at the edges.            Pollen: Abundant and near Greyed-Yellow Group 160A in            coloration. Pistil number: Typically approximately 194 on            average. Styles: Approximately 5.5 mm in length on average,            and near Yellow-Green Group 150D in coloration. Stigmas:            Near Yellow-Green Group 154B in coloration. Receptacle:            Substantially round in shape, when the flower is fully open            the length commonly is approximately 6 to 7 mm and the            diameter commonly is approximately 7 to 9 mm. Hips: Showy            and formed sporadically, sub-globose in shape, approximately            11 to 17 mm (near 14 mm on average) in length, approximately            13 to 23 mm (near 18 mm on average) in diameter, glabrous            with a light glaucous covering, commonly soften with            maturity, and the coloration commonly is near Red Group 46A            in darker areas blended with some Orange-Red Group 31A and            34B and Greyed-Orange Group 169A, 169B, and 170A.            Lastingness: A typical blossom commonly lasts approximately            5 days on the plant and approximately 3 days when cut and            placed in a vase. Such longevity is influenced by the            environmental conditions that are encountered.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong and vigorous with typical shoots            sometimes growing 0.75 to 1.2 m in a single growing season.        -   Blooming.—Very abundant, commonly heaviest with the first            flush in June, and continuous but less floriferous until            hard frost.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to rose Black            Spot (Marssonina rosae), Powdery Mildew (Sphaerotheca), and            Downey Mildew (Peronospora).

Plants of the new ‘Meitozaure’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

1. A new and distinct variety of Rugosa rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a compact andtypically broader than high growth habit with good vigor, (b) forms inclusters attractive single bright purplish-red blossoms that well retaintheir coloration upon maturity, (c) forms very dense medium green todark green foliage having a semi-glossy aspect that contrasts well withthe blossom coloration, (d) is highly resistant to common rose diseasessuch as Black Spot, Powdery Mildew and Downey Mildew, and (d) isparticularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in thelandscape; substantially as herein shown and described.